A HAMPSHIRE farmer could be jailed after refusing to remove a mobile home at the centre of a 15-year planning battle.

Members of the New Forest National Park Authority (NPA) heard that Colin Shutler had flouted a High Court injunction by failing to clear the site at Avonside Farm in Fordingbridge.

They decided that the authority should alert the court, demolish the mobile home itself and send Mr Shutler the bill.

Officers said the mobile home was installed without planning permission in 2001, when the planning authority for the Fordingbridge area was still the district council.

The NPA continued the enforcement action begun by the council and was granted an injunction against Mr Shutler last December. However, officers visited the farm on April 4 – the day the deadline expired – and discovered that the unauthorised building was still in place.

A report to members of the planning committee said: “Mr Shutler advised officers that he would not be removing it.

“As he has not complied with the requirements he may be referred back to court. If the court finds him to be in contempt of the order he may be sent to prison.”

The report said contractors hired by the NPA would demolish the mobile home if members felt the authority should take direct action.

It added: “As previously noted, tThese proceedings arise out of a flagrant breach of planning control over a period of 15 years. It is therefore considered appropriate to consider bringing Mr Shutler’s failure (to remove the mobile home) to the attention of the court so a judge may decide if any further action should be taken. To do nothing risks undermining future legal proceedings that might be undertaken by the authority in similar circumstances elsewhere in the national park.”

Members heard that the mobile home was no longer occupied but was being used as an office.

John Fryer, representing Mr Shutler, said the farmer was the victim of what he described as a “vendetta” by the authorities.

Citing the non-involvement of Fordingbridge Parish Council he added: “Grass roots opinion has not been sought or acquired. The whole thing has been mismanaged.”

However, Leo Randell, deputy chairman of the committee, urged members to approve the officers’ recommendations.

He said: “We have bent over backwards to try to resolve this situation. If we don’t follow through it’s a waste of time us being here.”

John Sanger added: “It’s already been to court and if there had been any mismanagement that’s the place where it could have been sorted out.”